Sunday, November 23, 2008

I don't know if this is good or bad parenting, but we had a nice snowfall on Thursday evening--- so Christmas came early for Julian. The snow began hours after we purchased new winter tires (we can thank Lise for that idea). We had even more snow on Friday-- and it stayed cold enough that it was still here Saturday. The new sled we had purchased came down from the loft and was promptly assembled Saturday morning. Minutes later we were outside. I pulled him around the neighborhood-- there was snow and ice everywhere-- nothing had been plowed or shoveled (it just doesn't happen around here). We then visited the neighborhood sledding hill. I must have dragged him up that hill a hundred times. He has no shortage of attention when he is having fun.

I probably had as much fun as Julian. In many ways, life here is very different than where and when I grew up-- but sledding is a direct point of reference back to my own childhood. I still have very cool memories of my father taking me sledding. We used my the sled my father had as a child-- and despite how its weathered patina, we much preferred it to anything more modern. It was simply faster and could be steered better. Julian doesn't share the family sled, but sledding conditions are a bit different here-- so he has what is essentially the standard Norwegian sled (even though it is a Swedish brand). It is more than capable of handling the both of us. As he is not yet two, he can only copilot. Besides, he hasn't quite grasped the concept of steering and braking yet.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

We attended a Guy Fawkes celebration over the weekend. It was full of English expats. I had no idea how many lived around here. I also had no idea of who Guy Fawkes really was. Generally it is a good thing to have a holiday named after you--- unless you were Guy Fawkes. We had sparklers, snacks, and a bonfire with effigies of Guy and the pope--- capped off with fireworks. A splendid time was had by all.

About Me

I am an American living in Norway, a dilettante road racer, a crazed bicycle commuter, a music producer on hiatus.
This blog started as a chronicle of my racing misadventures, my commuting foibles, my love of fixed gear. Then, one day, life just got in the way. Now I write about a little bit of everything.